Frequently Asked Questions

What is Non-Ionizing Radiation? +

Non-ionizing radiation, also known as electromagnetic radiation, is the type of electromagnetic radiation that does not have the frequency and energy to ionize atoms or molecules. Included in this category are low frequency electric and magnetic fields arising in the vicinity of electric power installations, radiowaves and microwave frequency fields (e.g. radio and television antennas, mobile phones and their base stations, radar systems) infrared radiation, optical radiation (the visible light) and the lower part of ultraviolet(UV) radiation.

Only higher frequency energy waves are ionizing. Specifically, transmissions in the upper part of the UltraViolet and above (X-Rays and Gamma Rays).

Is Non-Ionizing Radiation harmful to humans? +

Non-ionizing radiation is not harmful in low intensity and short-term exposure. Non-ionizing radiation does not cause ionization in biological systems (body cells), even at very high intensity levels, but may cause heating. This is the major difference with ionizing radiation.

How dangerous are mobile telephony installations? +

Mobile telephony installations in Cyprus are subject to regular measurements. Measurements made at ground level near such installations, especially those with tower-mounted antennas, have shown that exposure levels are hundreds of times less than the limits set for safe exposure. This makes it unlikely that the public could be exposed to RF levels in excess of the said limits.

When mobile telephony base station antennas are mounted at rooftops, it is possible that a person on the roof could encounter exposure levels greater than those typically encountered on the ground. However, once again, exposure levels approaching or exceeding the safety limits are only likely to be encountered very close to and directly in front of the antennas. If you are below or on the side of such antenna systems, the exposure levels are significantly lower.

How safe are mobile phones? +

In recent years, publicity, speculation, and concern over claims of possible health effects due to RF emissions from hand-held wireless telephones prompted various research programs to investigate whether there is any risk to users of these devices There is no scientific evidence to date, which proves that wireless phone usage may lead to cancer or a variety of other health effects, including headaches, dizziness or memory loss. However, studies are ongoing and key government agencies, continue to monitor the results of the latest scientific research on these topics.

The exposure guidelines specify limits for human exposure to RF emissions from mobile phones in terms of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), a measure of the rate of absorption of RF energy by the body. Testing of hand-held phones is normally done under conditions of maximum power usage, thus providing an additional margin of safety, since most phone usage is not at maximum power. The safe limit for a mobile phone user is an SAR of 2 W/kg averaged over 10 grams of tissue, and compliance with this limit must be demonstrated before a phone is granted for marketing of a phone in the European Union.

In areas where there is very low mobile network signal, the prolonged and repeated use of mobile phones should be avoided. Mobile phones detect the low network signal and increase their transmission power to retain communication. In such situation we have a transmitter transmitting up to 2 W next to our brain.